Note: I guess there are a lot of pictures and videos in this chapter. Please let me know if you find them annoying. 

Above song 👆🏼 goes for the beginning of the chapter. Other songs/videos might be added later on.
——————————————————————

——————————————————————

With eyes downcast, Aquilina sat on the balcony outside her room at her parent's house on the Mount of Olives, Israel. The Israeli sun shone in its timeless glory, filling her with its warmth.

But her heart wasn't as warm as the rest of her body was. Her thoughts drifted to all that had led her thus far.

~~~

It had been hours since Javier had taken the bullet for her. And hours since she found out that Skylar had discovered the truth about what happened that night.

She had tried so hard to keep it from him. But in the end, he found out about it. She couldn't stand seeing the guilt on his beautiful face.

Javier's family had visited earlier on. And the looks on their faces as they beheld him had worsened her pain.

They almost lost their son because of me, she had thought.

She had stood at a distance watching them. King Domingo II, Javier's Grandma, his step-mother and step-siblings, and shockingly, Lady Alba was also around.

How did that happen?

Skylar had stood next to her at the entrance. Skylar. She couldn't stand the fact that the guilt and deep regret in her brother's heart was all her fault.

If only I had been more careful.

Regrets and 'if only's' were her constant thoughts. It was then and there she made yet another decision.

She was going to leave—for good.

Seeing less of me might decrease their pain, she sadly thought.

And that brought her to another decision she knew would hurt even more than her absence.

She left a letter... for Javier.

~~~
Back To Present

She had made everything about her life bare to Javier. Not a stone was left unturned.

From the events of the night of the party, to her losing her child, and the fear of losing her own life due to the implications thereafter. She had told everything. Even the divorce papers.

Just like that. And she left herself in a vulnerable position.

He can do whatever he wants with it. Did I really think he would accept me?

Days had passed since she had left. And not once had she heard from Javier.

Sure, Aqui had heard of the WACO using the found evidence to finally capture Vladimir and his group — though some of them had gone AWOL.

She was glad about that aspect. Yet, the disappointment remained.

She didn't know what she had expected. For Javier to come after her? A small part of her had hoped for that much. Sorrow engulfed her fragile heart.

The sound of footsteps approached her from behind. Someone had entered without her noticing.

She quickly put up a brave front and turned to find her sister, Princess Petra, approaching.

Petra had returned to Israel for a visit a while before Aqui had arrived. Her children were a joy to behold.

"What is it?" Aqui asked suspiciously, noticing the playful smile on her sister's gorgeous face.

Petra didn't say a word but continued to look at her with that strange smile on her face.

She walked up to her and handed her a card. It was made of white and gold.

Aqui looked at her questioningly. Her sister only nodded that she opened it.

It looked like a wedding invite.

Is Petra getting married? No, she's already married, silly me. She chided herself.

Aqui opened it and finally gasped after glancing it over for the 15th time.

"Wha-How? When?" She stuttered helplessly and looked at her sister who only smiled at her with a knowing look.

How could it be? She glanced at it again, and willed her beating heart to slow down. Finally, she managed to actually read it.

You're cordially invited to the wedding ceremony of Prince Javier and Princess Aquilina.

The date? That very day!

"My wedding?" She asked and her sister nodded.

Then, a tear rolled down Aqui's cheek. For the first time in a very long time.

I've been invited to my own wedding.

"Now, I wish we had eternity for you to grasp it, kid. But I'm scared your groom might be too old by then."

Petra reached out to her little sister. She was sure she had to drag her.

"Now, come on! We have selected some gowns for you to choose from. Everyone is ready."

————

As the music was heard from the grand hall, Aqui was sure she knew who was DJ-ing.

"So, Skylar knew about this too?" She asked Jadon, her second oldest brother, who had somehow convinced her dad and her eldest brother Prince Sal to let him walk her down the aisle.

They stood behind the doors waiting for their call.

"Yeah, he planned most of it with Javier."

"I see..."

She felt glad for the little 'surprise' she wanted to give Javier. She was giving the 'surprise' after recovering from the shock of the sudden turn of events.

But she wasn't fully recovered. She knew she didn't deserve it. She felt unworthy. Aqui felt she wouldn't be surprised if it was all a big joke.

A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as her close friend, Natalie — who had surprisingly also shown up — finally brought her phone which was connected to the inside camera of the hall.

"Do you have it?" She questioned Natalie who looked like she was going to burst from glee.

"Yes!" She squealed.

On the phone screen, a very dashing-looking Javier stood before the Minister, with a huge screen behind them both.

The screen had the words, 'My Response'. The Conductor had already explained that it was the bride's response to the surprise wedding.

The huge doors swung open, and the bride entered.
But when Javier lifted the veil of his bride, he gasped. As did the rest of the congregation.

Aqui couldn't help but giggle at the look of surprise on his face that showed on the phone screen.

Take that!

"You're mean," Jadon said though he was silently laughing. "Are you ready now?"

He offered her his arm and she nodded. She was in fact, really nervous... and overwhelmed.

But she took the microphone and went on with her actual response.

~~~

https://youtu.be/mVnMm4yucI0

(Above is the song she sang 👆🏼😁 Feel free to play it now )

The huge doors swung open again, and Javier's heart thumped wildly. Aqui had played a trick on him by sending a fake bride.

But he hoped to see the actual Aquilina soon.

From his standing position, he couldn't see the face of the person approaching very clearly. Her head was bowed.

But he knew, even before she lifted her head that she was the one. He had sensed something odd before with the first bride though he had gone on with it.

As the real Aqui, his angelito, lifted her head, his breath caught. He couldn't breathe. Without make-up, with no falsities, his bride approached.

She had a microphone in her hand, and sung softly, as her elder brother, Jadon led her on.

Her gown was pure white, designed with some gold. It was splendid. But it wasn't the gown that captured his heart... it was the girl.

My Beloved is most beautiful...
Among thousands, and thousands
YESHUA, YESHUA, YESHUA...

Her angelic voice floated over the entire hall. Tears sparkled in his eyes. And he felt it wasn't just a song that belonged to her, but it was his also.

His beloved, whom God had given him, was most beautiful.

When she finally got to his side, overwhelmed, he hugged her and heard a soft weeping from her. He had never heard her cry. His face was also flooded with tears.

But it didn't break his heart, rather it affirmed his resolve to guard her forever, God being his helper.

"I guess... we're skipping the vows, ei?" The Minister asked causing the entire room to erupt with laughter.

He felt Aqui shake with laughter as she pulled away. He wiped the tears off her beautiful face.

Aquilina finally glanced around and noticed the number of people in the huge auditorium. She couldn't make out everyone.

But her entire family, including Sal, was around—to her amazement.

She also noticed Francesco, Rosa, Audrey, and few others from their school. Tarquin sat beside his father, the tiniest hint of a smile on his face.

I wonder what is going through his mind. But no, now is not the time to think about that.

Face to face with Javier, they both said their vows. And deep down in their hearts, was an unspoken fact. One surer than anything else.

Despite all that occurred in the world around them, they knew one thing for sure:
They had a GOD, and that GOD had given them each other. And He was and would forever be their anchor. Even in the storms of life.

Javier thought to the last words he had willingly added to his vows.

"Creo que, esto es lo que pasa cuando Dios escribe tu historia de amor (I believe that this is what happens when GOD writes your love story.)"

~~~~~
THE END — All Glory to THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!
~~~~~~~

Well, not quite the end, muchachos. Hopefully, by GOD'S GRACE, there would be another chapter... or two. 😁😁😁

https://youtu.be/YtZjq-CSRhU

Another video of how I pictured their wedding though a little old fashioned (from the movie about Esther). And without the makeups and jewelleries.

Much Love. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️